Steven Gerrard could escape FA rap

Gerrard looks set to escape any FA action after appearing to aim a V-sign at referee Andre Marriner

Gerrard’s apparent flash of temper was caught on ­camera as he was booked by the match official in ­Liverpool’s 1-0 defeat at Wigan on Monday night.[>

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The midfielder lost his rag when shown the yellow card for his reckless challenge on James McCarthy.[>

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But both skipper Gerrard and his club deny that he ­deliberately made the two-fingered gesture – something that Marriner apparently agrees with.[>

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Insiders at the FA yesterday claimed that the referee was in a position to take any necessary action and the likelihood now is that they will not become involved.[>

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Meanwhile, a crippling confidence crisis has been blamed for leaving Liverpool’s Champions League hopes hanging by a thread.[>

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They are no longer ­favourites to clinch fourth spot, which brings automatic qualification for next season’s competition.[>

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And with Liverpool ­sitt­ing in sixth place, ­striker Ryan Babel said: “We have made it a little difficult for ourselves.[>

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“We still have hope and faith that we can get fourth place. It will be harder in every game. It was going to be difficult, even before the game at Wigan.[>

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“We needed to get three points and that’s why the disappointment that we failed to do that is so big. It is disappointing that we can’t create a kind of ­confidence with winning games because one defeat seems to spoil all the confidence that we have and then we have to start again.[>

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“We definitely still have faith we can get fourth place, even though it will be harder.”[>

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Today the Anfield side will fly off to France for the first leg of their Europa League last-16 tie against Lille tomorrow night.[>

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Babel declared that there will be no hangover in this game as Liverpool seek the win that would give them some kind of lift.[>

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The Dutch star said: “We have got an important game on Thursday and we have to be ready for that. We can’t be disappointed too long.”[>